A few moments ago...
School Building– Third Floor, Class 12-A
"Valra, you look really tired... Did you not get enough sleep last night?" a handsome boy with neatly styled hair leaned toward the brown-haired girl slumped over her desk, her arms folded under her head. Her expression was exhausted, and her eyes looked dull and drained.
She slowly turned her head and gave him a lazy, disinterested glance.
The boy, unfazed, smiled gently. "If you're not feeling well, I can take you to the infirmary. Don't worry, I'll explain it to the teacher and say you had a headache or something. So... what do you say?" He extended his hand toward her, palm up, like a chivalrous knight offering aid to a noble lady.
Valra blinked at his hand, then looked straight into his hopeful face. Her voice came out blunt, flat, and without mercy. "Since she isn't here, you figured you'd try your luck with me, huh?"
The boy froze, his face turning red with embarrassment. "H-Hah... Th-that's not what I meant—"
"Get out," Valra interrupted coldly, waving her hand in dismissal. "I'm already too tired... and extremely annoyed. Don't add to it."
The boy awkwardly lowered his hand, scratching the back of his neck as he turned and walked away with slumped shoulders. His friend group chuckled in the background, clearly amused at his defeat.
Valra remained still, her body heavy from exhaustion. She hadn't gotten a minute of rest last night. After the skirmish that began just past midnight, she had ended up confronting two Masters in the span of a few hours. And she had spent the rest of the night scouring the area, trying to locate the remaining three. But none had shown themselves.
/So, we're doing patrol again today?/ Envy's voice echoed inside her head, smooth and laced with sarcasm.
Valra nodded slightly. /Yes. Before the relic manifests, we need to eliminate as many Champions as we can. If too many survive until the relic's appearance, it'll turn into an all-out massacre./
/Mmm, I see. But then... why didn't you eliminate Champion Pride last night? You had the chance, didn't you? Master, even if you believe he's innocent now, logic says he's a future threat.
Heck, he is in danger, too. If the Champion remains alive, they'll get pulled into the war eventually. And when that happens... You won't be able to protect them./
Those words hit her harder than she wanted to admit.
Valra's jaw tensed. She'd read about past wars—every documented one. Most Masters never even saw the attack that killed them.
War didn't wait for fairness. It devoured the hesitant.
/That's why I told her... we end this tonight. No stalling. No more chances./
/Hmm… Are you sure you'll be able to follow through? What if your beloved asks you to stop? Are you really going to hold your blade steady then?/
Valra's cheeks flushed. Her fists tightened on her desk. /I-I told you already! There's nothing like that between us!! Stop bringing it up!/
But just as she grumbled, a pulse surged through her chest. A tingle. A ripple of energy.
Valra flinched. /Envy, did you feel that?/
/Yes. A magic signature. It came from somewhere on the campus. Strong enough to catch attention. Whoever it is, they're not subtle./
Without hesitation, Valra stood from her desk and rushed out of the classroom, ignoring the looks she received on her way out. Her boots hit the stairs with urgency as she moved toward the source.
As she passed through the second floor, she overheard students chatting near the balcony.
"...Did you hear? That guy Kai collapsed during the basketball game."
"Collapsed? More like annihilated! His eyes were rolling back and everything!"
"He was foaming at the mouth too, like legit foaming!"
Valra's eyes narrowed sharply. /That bastard Kai again? What did he get himself into this time?/
She hurried down to the court and stopped just inside the entrance.
There it was—Kai being lifted onto a stretcher, body limp, curled in pain. His mouth slightly open, foam still clinging to the corner of his lips. His eyes were glazed over, rolling back, and his hands twitched weakly.
Her brows furrowed. "What the hell happened here?" she demanded, her voice firm.
Some students rushed to explain. The game had gotten intense. Then Leo. One attack. Boom—Kai collapsed.
"...Leo did that?"
Valra's eyes widened slightly, lips parting in disbelief. "Leo...?" she repeated under her breath.
Without wasting another second, she asked around. "Did anyone see where he went?"
Most weren't sure, but a few mentioned seeing him leave with a girl—purple hair, big chest—heading toward the cafeteria.
Valra wasted no time. Her legs moved on their own.
And finally—she found them.
Leo and Sakura.
Standing in the hallway just outside the cafeteria, taking photos together like they were in some cute school romance. Sakura beamed with joy, cheeks pink, her hands clasped like she was holding treasure.
Valra's eye twitched.
Her feet moved faster.
She reached out and snatched the phone from Luna's hands, her voice sharp and cold.
"Using a mobile phone on campus is not permitted, isn't it?"
Sakura's face dropped like a rock. Her joy was shattered.
A full 180 in a split second.
Just when her life was going smoothly… why now?
Why always her!?
"Ms. Asterra..." Sakura began with a forced, sweet tone, masking her rage. "Do you really have to interfere every single time? So what if phones aren't allowed? It's not like I'm the only one using it. Even the teachers do. The school uses phones all the time. And I bet you have one too, right?"
Valra's face remained stone. "No. I don't."
Sakura blinked rapidly. "W-Well… that figures. An old hag like you wouldn't understand youth anyway."
A vein popped visibly on Valra's forehead. Her grip on the phone tightened dangerously.
"Wait, wait, wait!!" Sakura suddenly panicked, voice rising into a plea. "That phone has my precious Senior's photos! Please don't break it!! Please!!"
Leo's brow twitched. 'Photos? Plural?' he glanced at Sakura, whose face was pleading in panic. '...She has already taken some? Ugh.' His instincts screamed Do not ask... And he listened.
Valra, taller than Sakura, effortlessly raised the phone above her head, out of reach. She didn't even need to move much. It was effortless.
"You're dead!" Sakura snapped, jumping up and down. "Give it back, you little—!" She cut herself off, biting her tongue. She couldn't show her unruly side.
Not in front of Leo.
Valra gave her a slow grin. "What? Cat got your tongue?"
Sakura growled between her teeth. "You're really testing me..."
But Valra's smirk suddenly vanished as her eyes fell to Sakura's chest.
And there it was.
Large, neat letters written proudly across the fabric of her shirt—Leo's signature.
Valra's lips twitched violently. Once. Twice. And again.
Sakura pouted, her cheeks turning a bright beet red as she jumped up with sudden energy. Leo's eyes, despite himself, were momentarily pulled by gravity... pulled downward, to the way her chest bounced softly with the motion.
Before he could even blink again—
A deadly glare landed on him like a hammer.
Yeah... It was Luna.
'What's with her?' Leo groaned internally. 'It's not like I wanted to look… it just happened!
Gravity pulls, you know... GRAVITY!!!'
He quickly turned his head away, shaking off the thought.
It's not like he was wrong... Indeed, Gravity was a dangerous one!! For man!
Clearing his throat, Leo said aloud, "Ms. Valra… please don't tease my junior."
"Yes! Tell her!!" Sakura shouted with fury and righteous fire, stamping her foot.
Valra's lips twitched, clearly unamused, but she finally relented and handed the phone back—not before throwing a sharp glare at Sakura. "I'm reporting this to your homeroom teacher."
"Senior!!" Sakura squeaked, her voice laced with panic as she clutched the phone tightly and immediately hid behind Leo like a kitten seeking cover.
Valra shook her head. "Anyway, I need to speak with you, Mr. Leo. Come with me."
"No!" Sakura objected instantly, hugging Leo's arm with all the force of a stubborn fangirl. "I'm not letting my precious Senior go off alone with someone like you! He didn't do anything wrong, bit— I mean... woman!"
Leo flinched, immediately feeling the softness pressing firmly against his arm.
'Damn... those knockers are criminal-' he thought instinctively, before freezing.
Because Luna had stepped in again—staring at him with a look so sharp it might cut diamonds. Her face was only inches from his, her eyes threatening to drill holes into his skull.
'Can she read minds or what!?' Leo almost sweated as he shook his head and turned toward Sakura.
"You'll listen to your Senior, right?" he asked gently.
Sakura looked up at him and nodded instantly. "Only you."
"Then... be a good girl," Leo said softly, lifting his hand to gently ruffle her hair.
Sakura blinked.
Then stood frozen.
Her expression turned to one of divine bliss, her eyes sparkling like stars. She didn't even blink..... She had turned into a living statue, radiating pure happiness.
Like she had just reached spiritual enlightenment!!
Luna's lips twitched, losing patience. "Okay, that's enough Senior affection for today!" she snapped, swatting Leo's hand away from Sakura's head before grabbing her stone-cold form and dragging her off with a tired sigh.
Leo watched them go and chuckled. "She really is a sweet girl," he murmured.
Then he turned—
Valra was right in front of him.
Dangerously close.
Leo blinked, slightly startled.
"Come with me," she said, her voice low and serious.
Leo's smile faded. He could tell—whatever this was, it wasn't something casual.
A few minutes later – School Rooftop
The wind was calm but steady as Leo stood by the rooftop railing. His red hair swayed slightly in the breeze, his gaze drifting over the entire cityscape that unfolded below them.
The view was breathtaking.
Wide, open, vibrant… and yet, in Leo's eyes, everything looked unfamiliar.
Messed up.
Leo sighed softly and shook his head, brushing away the haze in his thoughts. Then he turned to see Valra standing by the large metal water tank, her arms folded and her face tense with focus.
"I didn't expect you to be at this school," Leo said casually, his voice slightly amused. "Honestly, I thought you'd already be in college or something."
"So you really don't remember anything yet?" Valra asked quietly.
Leo exhaled and nodded. "Nope. Nothing."
Valra frowned, tapping her forehead in frustration. "Then tell me something. Why are you here?"
"I was just trying to remember. That's all—"
"I warned you, Leo," Valra cut in sharply, her voice suddenly rising. "I told you not to leave the house! Do you think this is just some harmless game? At any moment, any moment, you could be killed! Your life is constantly on the line!"
Leo blinked. "Warned? What do you mean?"
Valra's expression darkened. "Didn't Pride tell you what happened last night?"
"...Not exactly," Leo replied, scratching his cheek.
Valra sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose as frustration boiled behind her eyes. "You're an unknown variable, Leo. And you're an easy target. Even Pride's powers are limited when it comes to protecting you. If you go around acting reckless, other Masters won't hesitate to kill you."
"But I thought mages were forbidden from using their magic in public. Especially in front of people—" Leo began, only for the words to die in his throat.
In a split-second blur, Valra was in front of him, her hand wrapping around his neck—not to choke, but just enough to hold him firmly still. Her face inches from his, she spoke in a low, dangerously cold whisper.
"What do you think would've happened... if I hadn't stopped it last second? Do you really think you'll always have people around? Leo, this isn't a game. A fraction of a second is enough for mages like me to finish you off... If a Master finds out who you are, they'll do anything—anything at all—to end your life."
Leo didn't flinch. In fact, he leaned in just slightly. "Would you... too?"
Valra's eyes widened faintly. Her grip on his neck tightened.
"I... I will," she said, her voice uncertain, as if the words hurt to say.
Leo stared at her, calm and unbothered. "You will, huh? I see..." he whispered. Then, taking a step closer, he asked softly, "Then why'd you help me? None of this is your responsibility. I'm not your burden. I'm your enemy, remember? So why go through all this trouble?"
His words pressed against something inside her.
/Master, I don't mind eliminating him right now—/
"SHUT UP!!"
Valra's voice roared out furiously, her fists shaking.
Leo flinched slightly, taking a step back.
Valra's breathing was uneven as she glared at him. "So what if I helped you?! I just... I just did it because you're my friend! That's all!"
Leo blinked, surprised. Then he smiled faintly. "Oh... so I do have a friend, huh? That's good."
He raised his hand and grinned. "Well then, friend... why don't we team up and win this thing together?"
Valra stared at him with a deadpan expression. 'Did he even listen to a single word I said?'
She looked down at his hand. He still didn't understand. He still thought this was all some wild fantasy... A game.
She turned away.
"I can't team up with someone I barely even recognise as a Mage," Valra muttered, her voice quiet and cold as she walked toward the exit without hesitation, "Be ready tonight!"
Leo stood still, hand still raised... his smile slowly fading.